Page:What cheer, or, Roger Williams in banishment (1896).pdf/57

 LX.

A pause ensued, and Waban silent sate; Yet to himself his lips repeating were; At length he answering broke the pause sedate, "Waban remembers, and the talk will bear." Then he in silence fired his calumet, And gave its vapors to the wigwam's air, Whilst Williams wrote, with stationery rude, His first epistle from the lonely wood.

LXI.

'Twas on the inner bark stript from the pine, Our Father penciled this epistle rare; Two blazing pine-knots did his torches shine, Two braided pallets formed his desk and chair; He wrote his wife the brief familiar line, How he had journeyed. and his roof now where; And that poor Waban was his host benign, And bade her cheer and gave him blankets fine.

LXII.

Then bade her send the Indian presents, bought When first they suffered persecution's thrall,— The strings of wampum, and the scarlet coat, The tinseled belt and jeweled coronal; The pocket Bible, which his haste forgot, For he had cheering hopes of Waban's soul; Then gave her solace to the bad unknown, That God o'errules and still protects his own.

LXIII.

And to the hunter Williams now presents The secret charge, with all directions meet; For Waban means to take his journey hence Ere dawns the day upon his lone retreat;